Commentaries

WKMS welcomes community members to self-voice self-authored compositions that express opinion, introspection or humor on topics of interest and importance to our audience. If you have an opinion, interest or review you'd like to share with WKMS listeners, please see the guidelines below. The views expressed in commentaries are the opinion of the commentator and don't necessarily reflect the views of WKMS.

The station will review every script before it is recorded with respect to:
1. Libel or slander.
2. Content that is more promotional than provocative.
3. Accuracy.
4. Personal attacks and ad hominem attacks.
5. Political or religious content that promotes rather than informs.
6. Appropriate usage, language and form for civil discourse.

The station will assist authors with:
1. Making appropriate edits.
2. Bringing the communication to proper time length, generally about 600 words or 3 to 4 minutes of spoken word.
3. Recording the communication in the WKMS studio (unless other arrangements that yield equally acceptable audio are agreed to).
4. Editing the communication and placing it in the WKMS schedule.

WKMS will require authors to provide the station a final script that will be filed in the news department and will be placed on the station's web site.

WKMS will need authors to provide a suggested introduction for each communication as well as a standard announcer outro script that includes author name, general place of residence, and whatever other personal information might lend authority or authenticity to the communication.

WKMS will schedule produced communications and inform the author of time(s). Generally these are aired three times each, but the rotation is solely at the discretion of the station.

WKMS will refuse to air communications that violate rules of the Federal Communications Commission for non-commercial, educational stations. Further, WKMS will refuse to air communications that would, for any reason, undermine its goodwill with the audience it serves.

If you find these terms agreeable, please email msu.wkmsnews@murraystate.edu to schedule a time in a studio to record.

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Commentary
4:31 pm
Fri July 23, 2010

Commentary: "Speech rights harmed when Court bars Ten Commandments"

Richard Nelson

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Commentary
11:09 am
Fri July 16, 2010

Uncommon Mystery - The Good Neighbor Policy

Murray, KY – Last Friday, SyFy welcomed viewers to Haven, a new television series based on the based on the Stephen King novel, The Colorado Kid. The publisher of that book and one of the producers for the series is Charles Ardai, the award-winning writer who penned The Good Neighbor Policy, a poem written in double dactyl form. It might just be the only criminal case in mystery in history written with such complicated commitment. Mystery fan Michael Cohen peeks through the pages.

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Commentary
10:30 am
Fri July 9, 2010

Commentary: The Star Studded Banner

Murray, KY – If you went to the county fair, or almost any other event last Fourth of July, you probably heard at least one rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. Commentator Robert Valentine says he loves America's anthem as much as anyone here in the Land of the Free, but he does take umbrage when singers needlessly dress it up on the stage.

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Commentary
10:44 am
Fri July 2, 2010

Commentary: The Persistence of Memory

Murray, KY – Many folks have made it their tradition to celebrate Independence Day with relatives close and distant. If you're one of those distant relatives, that means traveling home for the holiday. Commentator and Poet Constance Alexander recently visited her childhood home of Metuchen, New Jersey and observed, as you may this weekend, that over many years, some things have changed and some things have stayed the same.

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Commentary
11:39 am
Fri June 25, 2010

Uncommon Mystery - Moth

Murray, KY – Commentator Michael Cohen peeks through the pages of Moth, an uncommon mystery by James Sallis about an existential detective investigating the death of an old love on New Orleans' mean streets.

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Commentary
4:55 pm
Fri June 18, 2010

Uncommon Mystery - Death from a Top Hat

Commentary
4:18 pm
Fri June 11, 2010

Uncommon Mystery - The Third Encounter

Murray, KY – The International Mystery Writers Festival is about to get underway in Owensboro next week and if you plan on attending you may want to pick up a mystery novel or two, recommended by commentator Michael Cohen. This week, he peeks through the pages of The Third Encounter, by Sara Woods, who herself was a member of many mystery writer societies. This uncommon mystery features British barrister Antony Maitland on the case involving an old friend, who has been murdered.

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Commentary
11:20 am
Fri June 4, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen . . . Hazards of the Emcee

Robert Valentine

Murray, KY – Whether it's a wedding reception or the Academy Awards, the Master of Ceremonies often plays a critical role, and they come in varying species and levels of quality. Robert Valentine hosts this commentary on the types, tasks, and hazards of the emcee.

Well, we have come to that portion of the calendar reserved for such items as graduation, weddings, end-of-the-fiscal year meetings, and annual golf outings disguised as end-of-the-fiscal year meetings.

Heaven help us.

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Commentary
11:26 am
Fri May 28, 2010

Uncommon Mystery - The Haunted Bookshop - a review

Murray, KY – This uncommon mystery was written by Christopher Morley, born 120 years ago this month. Don't fear digging through the library stacks for this one, The Haunted Bookshop is available online for free and there's more to its name than frightening ghosts.

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Commentary
11:53 am
Tue May 11, 2010

Station Manager Kate Lochte on WKMS at 40

Kate Lochte

Murray, KY – When WKMS began in 1970, Murray State University envisioned that it would spread the word about higher education in the region to a much wider audience, and WKMS continues to serve as the University's beacon for lifelong learning, with your steadfast support. Thank you.

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